# Healthcare Play Specialist - Peterborough > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/healthcare-play-specialist-peterborough/b852e067-cccb-44c6-8685-f3383424c3db - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/healthcare-play-specialist-peterborough/b852e067-cccb-44c6-8685-f3383424c3db.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Peterborough - **Region:** East of England - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Healthcare support worker - **Grade:** Band 4 - **Salary:** £28,392 - £31,157 per annum pro rata - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time, Part time, 37.5 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-06-16T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-06-02T09:10:36.541Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Cambridgeshire/Peterborough/North_West_Anglia_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Healthcare_Play_Specialist/Healthcare_Play_Specialist-v7921339 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/7921339?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview ### Transform Hospital Stays for Children – Join Our Dedicated Play Team! Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children during their hospital journey? Do you have the skills and enthusiasm to create a positive, playful environment that supports emotional and physical recovery? If so, we want you to join our expanding Play Team at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust! ### About Us Our Play Service is integral to the holistic care we provide for children and young people aged 0-17 years across two sites. We strive to create an environment where play is not just an activity but a vital component of healthcare, supporting developmental, therapeutic and recovery needs. With recent developments in our Trust, we are placing an even stronger emphasis on play as an essential part of a child’s care journey. ### Why Join Us? - Be part of a passionate team that puts children’s well-being at the heart of everything we do. - Work in an environment where your skills are valued and your contributions make a real impact. - Help shape the future of play as an essential part of care within our Trust. ### Apply Now! If you’re ready to bring your skills and passion for play to our team, we’d love to hear from you. Make a difference in a child’s hospital journey—apply today! Together, we can transform care through play. ### Main duties of the job ### The Opportunity We are looking for enthusiastic and registered Healthcare Play Specialists to join our team. You’ll play a pivotal role in using evidence-based practice to assess, plan, and deliver therapeutic play interventions tailored to individual needs. What We’re Looking For - A Healthcare Play Specialism qualification (Foundation Degree or equivalent). - Registration as a Healthcare Play Specialist. - Proven experience working with children in a healthcare setting. - Strong communication, time management, and leadership skills. - Ability to work both independently and as part of a team across sites ### What You’ll Bring Your creativity, compassion, and expertise will help bridge the gap between hospital and home, creating a positive and memorable experience for children and their families. As a qualified and registered Play Specialist, you will: - Work collaboratively within the Play Team and the wider multidisciplinary team. - Use therapeutic and developmental play techniques to meet the emotional, physical, and social needs of children and young people. - Support families in engaging with their child’s play and recovery journey. - Facilitate distraction and preparation techniques for invasive or painful procedures. - Develop individual play programs for long-term or specific needs patients. - Act as an advocate for the importance of play within the hospital setting, showcasing its value to the wider healthcare team. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities Please refer to the attached job description for a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, and expectations. ## Job Details Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children during their hospital journey? Do you have the skills and enthusiasm to create a positive, playful environment that supports emotional and physical recovery? If so, we want you to join our expanding Play Team at North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust! Our Play Service is integral to the holistic care we provide for children and young people aged 0-17 years across two sites. We strive to create an environment where play is not just an activity but a vital component of healthcare, supporting developmental, therapeutic and recovery needs. With recent developments in our Trust, we are placing an even stronger emphasis on play as an essential part of a child’s care journey. Be part of a passionate team that puts children’s well-being at the heart of everything we do. Work in an environment where your skills are valued and your contributions make a real impact. Help shape the future of play as an essential part of care within our Trust. If you’re ready to bring your skills and passion for play to our team, we’d love to hear from you. Make a difference in a child’s hospital journey—apply today! Together, we can transform care through play. ## Job Description We are looking for enthusiastic and registered Healthcare Play Specialists to join our team. You’ll play a pivotal role in using evidence-based practice to assess, plan, and deliver therapeutic play interventions tailored to individual needs. What We’re Looking For A Healthcare Play Specialism qualification (Foundation Degree or equivalent). Registration as a Healthcare Play Specialist. Proven experience working with children in a healthcare setting. Strong communication, time management, and leadership skills. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team across sites Your creativity, compassion, and expertise will help bridge the gap between hospital and home, creating a positive and memorable experience for children and their families. As a qualified and registered Play Specialist, you will: Work collaboratively within the Play Team and the wider multidisciplinary team. Use therapeutic and developmental play techniques to meet the emotional, physical, and social needs of children and young people. Support families in engaging with their child’s play and recovery journey. Facilitate distraction and preparation techniques for invasive or painful procedures. Develop individual play programs for long-term or specific needs patients. Act as an advocate for the importance of play within the hospital setting, showcasing its value to the wider healthcare team. ## Responsibilities Please refer to the attached job description for a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, and expectations. ## Person Specification ### Experience **Essential** - Experience of working with children and/or young people and their families in a health care setting - Experience of effective working as a team member within an MDT - Experience of working with children and/or young people with special needs including those with neurodiversity or challenging behaviours - Experience leading play/recreation activities for babies, children and/or young people ### Skills and Abilities **Essential** - Up to date registration with HPSET ### Education/Knowledge and Qualifications **Essential** - Registered & qualified Health Play Specialist holding the Foundation Degree in Healthcare Play Specialism, Edexcel /BTEC in specialised play for sick child or the previous HPSC/HPSEB or international equivalent - Knowledge of recent, relevant health policy & guidance and NAHPS Guidelines for Professional Practice - Knowledge of professional and ethical issues including professional boundaries, clinical governance and safeguarding children policies and practice - Knowledge and understanding of therapeutic play and child development ## Documents - [staff benefits (pdf, 576.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2886) - [living our values (pdf, 260.7kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=1865) - [we are team nwangliaft (pdf, 8.3mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2745) - [information for candidates (pdf, 5.7mb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2788) - [healthcare play specialist - ps (pdf, 144.6kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10199096) - [healthcare play specialist - jd (docx, 650.3kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10340349) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.